Switch adapter for providing selective operating conditions for the switch



Oct 1967 w. .BROWN 3 348s SWITCH ADAPTER FOR VIDING SELEC E OPERATINGCONDITIONS FOR THE SWIT Filed Oct. 6, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORWILLIAM R. BROWN BY w f ATTORN Y Oct. 17, 1967 'w. R. BROWN 3,348,014

SWITCH ADAPTER FOR PROVIDING SELECTIVE OPERATING CONDITIONS FOR THESWITCH Filed Oct. (3, 1966 2 Sheets$heet 2 v HNVENTOR WILLIAM R.B ROWNATTOR EY United States Patent SWITCH ADAPTER FGR PROVIDEIG SELECTIVEOPERATING CONDITIONS FOR THE SWITCH William Ray Brown, lndianapoiis,1nd,, assignor to P. R.

Mallory & Co. Inc, Indianapolis, End, a corporation of Delaware FiledOct. 6, i966, Ser. No. 534,768 8 Elairns. ((11. 2130-172) ABSTRAET OFTHE DISCLOSURE An adapter for a switch which provides selectiveoperating conditions for the switch.

This invention relates to snap action mechanisms, and particularly to anadapter for snap switches.

Snap action mechanisms have found great utility in recent years sincethey are relatively simple and economical to actuate the mechanisms withwhich they are associated with a positive stroke of the snap blade eventhough the force which acts to actuate the mechanisms is applied veryslowly. More particularly such snap action mechanisms have foundparticular utility in the electrical field in the form of snap and/ ordouble throw snap action switches since the quick snapping action of thesnap blade associated with the mechanism is effective to substantiallyeliminate arcing between two adjacent contacts.

In switches such as these, adapters are usually required so that theswitch may be readily actuated in accordance with predeterminedrequirements. The present invention provides for such an adapter and hasas one of its foremost objects the provision of means to provide eithera momentary electrical impulse or a permanent electrical contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an adapter which issmall and compact.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an adapter which iseasily aligned with the switch.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an adapterwherein a single actuator bar actuates the switch button.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an adapter whichutilizes a return spring to bias the actuator bar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such an adapterwherein the actuator bar and the return spring are disposed within a twopiece cover and wherein the pieces are held together by staking thus,rendering the adapter susceptible to a plurality assembly.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in a novel constructioncombination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionhere disclosed may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bank of the adapters attached to andmade part of a corresponding bank of switches;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the novel adapter showing itsrelationship with a switch;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are side views of the adapters taken along the line 33of FIGURE 1, with portions of the adapter being in cross-section; and

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 55 of FIG- URE 3.

Generally speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished byproviding an adapter for a switch, which in the main, comprises springbiased actuating means adapted to selectively engage the actuating meansof a snap switch. More particularly, the adapter comprises a springbiased actuator bar having a cam surface adapted to engage a snap switchbutton having a cam follower surface such that when a selective externalforce is applied to the actuator bar the switch button iscorrespondingly selectively actuated. Such selective actuation of theactuator bar permits either a momentary electrical impulse or apermanent electrical contact.

In its perferred construction as shown by the drawings, the adaptercomprises a cover preferably constructed in two identical sections, thecover being adapted to be fastened to a snap switch. The snap switch hasa switch button extending through the housing of the snap switch throughan aperture formed in the housing. The button has a cam follower surfaceon the end extending from the housing. Each of the sections forming theadapters cover have notches centrally formed in their abutting edges toform an opening in the cover. An actuator bar comprising a knob, a shankportion connecting the knob to a base, and a cam extending from theopposite surface of the base, extends through the opening in the cover,with the base being held in bearing relationship with the underneathside of the cover by a return spring disposed over the switch button ofthe snap switch. The return spring has a slot through which the cam ofthe actuator bar extends so as to be in actuating relationship with thecam follower surface of the switch button. To operate the snap switchfor a momentary electrical impulse the actuator bar is pushed in causingthe cam of the actuator bar to depress the switch button. For apermanent electrical contact, the bar is pushed forward causing thebutton switch to be permanently depressed through the movement of thecam against the cam follower surface of the button.

The sections of the cover are joined together through staking such thata bank of adapters can be readily adapted to a corresponding bank ofswitches.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a bank of the novel adapters10 attached to a corresponding bank of snap switches 11 by meanshereinafter described. Each of the adapters has a cover 12. which, foreach of assembly, is composed of two identical sections 13 and 14. Theseparate adapters are staked together through dowel pins 15.

Referring to FIGURE 2, a typical snap switch 11, for which the noveladapter is suitable, is composed of a housing 16 which is preferably,for ease of assembly, divided into two sections 17 and 18. A switchbutton 19 having a cam follower surface 20 extends through aperture 21of the housing 16. Electric terminal leads 22 also extend from thehousing and are in electrical contact with suitable switching bladeslocated within the housing. Switch button 19 is also connected to suchswitching blades. Both the housing 15 and the switch button arefabricated from an electrical insulating material such as athermosetting resin plastic, for example, as is the cover 12 of theadapter.

As previously stated, the cover 12 for the adapter is composed of twoidentical sections 13 and 14. The two sections are attached to section13 of switch cover 16 through the pins 23 onto which slots 24 and 25 andtheir counterparts of section 13 are mated. Pins 23 have a flanged topportion 23a such that the sections 13 and 14 can be securely held to theswitch housing. The sections of the cover are staked together in amanner more clearly shown in FIGURE 5.

Referring to FIGURE 5, section 13 has a bore 13a into which extension14a of section 14 is received with a snug fit. Additionally bore 13a hasa charnfer 13b such that the ends 141) of the extension can be flaredupon i the application of heat. Section 14 also has a bore 14b throughwhich the dowel pins 15 are passed.

Returning to FIGURE 2, the abutting edges 26 and 27 of sections 13 and14 respectively have notches 28 and 29 cut in them in spaced relationsuch that opening 31) (FIGURE 1) is formed in cover 12 of the adapter.Actuator bar 31 which actuates the switch button 19 extends through thisopening.

Actuator bar is made up of three sections: a base 32, a shank portion 33connecting the base 32 to knob 34, and cam 35 extending from theopposite surface of the base. The bar may be of a one piececonstruction, and is fabricated from an electrical insulating materialsuch as that used for the cover of the adapter and the housing for theswitch. The actuator bar is carried by a return spring 36 having a slot37 through which cam 35 extends. The return spring is positioned overswitch button 19 such that cam 35 can be engaged with the cam followersurface 20 of button 19. This can be more readily seen with reference toFIGURES 3 and 4.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, the actuator bar is carried by the returnspring 36, the spring being biased such that when the spring is in itsrelaxed position the base 32 is held against the inner or underneathsurface 38 of the adapter cover 12. The spring slidably rests on thesurface 39 of switch housing section 13 such that cam 35 issubstantially in alignment with switch button 19 such that the cam canreadily be engaged with the cam follower surface 20.

In operation and with specific reference to FIGURE 3, a permanentelectrical contact is made in the switch '11 by pushing knob 34 in thedirection of the arrow. This moves cam 35 over cam follower surface 20to the position 40. Likewise, return spring 36 assumes a new position41. Thus, the switch button is depressed to position 42, and since thecam 35 is positioned over the button 19 as shown, a permanent electricalcontact is made in the switch. That is, the contact is permanent untilthe knob 34 is pushed back to its original position.

Referring to FIGURE 4, when knob 34 is depressed in the direction of thearrow, the actuator bar is pivoted against point P where the base 32bears against the inner surface 38 of cover 12. As cover 35 moves overcam follower surface 20 of button 19, the button is depressed. When theknob is released, return spring 36 moves the actuator bar back to itsoriginal position. Thus, a momentary electrical impulse is achieved.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying figures of the drawing, it will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art that this invention provides a new and improvedadapter for snap switches, the principles of which may be applied toother similar devices. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the scope ofthe invention is to be determined from the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter means for a switch providing selective operatingconditions for said switch comprising: an aperturcd housing, an actuatorbar seated in said aperture including means positioned without saidhousing and cam means positioned within said housing, said cam meansadjacent a switch button of said switch means, spring bias means seatedbetween said switch and said actuator bar for biasing said actuator baraway from said switch button, displacement of said actuator bar alongone path causing said cam to engage with and displace said switchbutton, said actuator bar locked in position by the interaction betweensaid housing and said actuator bar and said switch button when displacedalong said one path providing a selective operating condition for saidswitch, displacement of said actuator bar along a different path causingsaid actuator bar to displace said spring bias means storing energytherein and said cam to engage with and displace said switch buttonproviding another selective operating condition for said switch, releaseof said Cir stored energy of said spring biasing means displacing saidactuator bar to said position adjacent said switch button.

2. An adapter means for a switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidspring bias means is a slotted substantially U-shaped spring havingextremities slidably engaging said switch, said cam extending throughsaid slot.

3. An adapter means for a switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidactuator bar includes a base engaging with a surface of said housingwhen said actuator bar displaces said switch button to said selectiveoperating condition and base pivoted against said surface of saidhousing as said actuator bar displaces said switch button said otherselective operating condition.

4. An adapter means for a switch providing selective operatingconditions for said switch comprising: an apertured housing, an actuatorbar seated in said aperture including a knob positioned without saidhousing and cam means and a base positioned within said housing, saidcam means adjacent a switch button of said switch means, a slottedsubstantially U-shaped spring having extremities slidably engaging saidswitch seated between said switch and said base of said actuator bar forbiasing said actuator bar away from said switch button, said camprojecting through said slot of said spring, displacement of saidactuator bar along one path causing said cam to engage with and displacesaid switch button, said actuator bar locked in position by theinteraction between said housing and said base of said actuator bar andsaid switch button when displaced along said one path providing aselective operating condition for said switch, displacement of saidactuator bar along a different path pivoting said base of actuator barabout a point on said housing causing said base to displace said springstoring energy therein and said cam to engage with and displace saidswitch button providing another selective operating condition for saidswitch, release of said stored energy of said spring displacing saidactuator bar to said position adjacent said switch button.

5. An adapter for a snap switch which provides for selective actuationof such switch such that either a momentary electrical impulse or apermanent electrical contact can be made by the switch, said adaptercomprising:

(a) a cover composed of two identical sections, each section beingadapted to be fastened to a snap switch, each of said sections havingabutting edges and notches cut in said edges in spaced relation so as toform an opening in said cover,

(b) an actuator bar extending through said opening, said bar comprisinga knob disposed outside said cover, a shank portion connecting said knobto a base disposed within said cover, and a cam extending from theopposite surface of said base,

(c) said actuator bar being carried by a return spring disposed withinsaid cover and having a slot through which said cam of said actuator barextends, said spring being slidably resting on the surface of thehousing of said switch and being positioned over a switch button havinga cam follower surface such that said cam can be engaged with saidfollower surface,

(d) said base of said actuator bar being biased against the underneathsurface of said cover when said spring is in its relaxed position.

6. A bank of adapters for a corresponding bank of snap switches whereineach of said adapters comprises a cover, said cover being adapted to befastened to a snap switch, a spring biased actuator bar extendingthrough an opening in said cover, said .bar having a base portion, saidbase portion being biased against the underneath surface of said coverwhen said spring is in its relaxed position, said bar being adapted toengage a switch button of said snap switch, said cover being composed oftwo identical sections with each section having means to stake saidsections together so as to form a bank of said adapters for acorresponding bank of snap switches.

7. A bank of adapters for a corresponding bank of snap switches whereineach adapter provides for selective actuation of a corresponding switchsuch that either a momentary electrical impulse or a permanentelectrical contact can be made by the switch and wherein each of saidadapters comprises:

(a) a cover composed of two identical sections, each section beingadapted to be fastened to a snap switch, each of said sections havingabutting edges and notches cut in said edges in spaced relation so as toform an opening in said cover,

(b) an actuator bar extending through said opening, said bar comprisinga knob disposed outside said cover, a shank portion connecting said knobto a base disposed within said cover, and a cam extending from theopposite surface of said base,

(c) said actuator bar being carried by a return spring disposed withinsaid cover and having a slot through which said cam of said actuator barextends, said spring being slidably resting on the surface of thehousing of said switch and being positioned over a switch button havinga cam follower surface such that said cam can be engaged with saidfollower surface,

(d) said base of said actuator bar being biased against the underneathsurface of said cover when said spring is in its relaxed position,

(e) each of said sections of said cover having means to stake saidsections together so as to form said banks of said adapters for saidcorresponding snap switches.

8. A bank of adapters according to claim 7 wherein said means to stakesaid sections together comprises an extension extending from one of saidsections, a bore running through said extension and said section, a borein the other of said sections adapted to snugly receive said extension,and having a chamfer at its end opposite that of said other sections,said extension being flared at its extremity so as to mate said chamfer,and a dowel pin running through said sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,185,783 5/1965 Dowdle et al.200-172 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ADAPTER MEANS FOR A SWITCH PROVIDING SELECTIVE OPERATINGCONDITIONS FOR SAID SWITCH COMPRISING: AN APERTURED HOUSING, AN ACTUATORBAR SEATED IN SAID APERTURE INCLUDING MEANS PISITIONED WITHOUT SAIDHOUSING AND CAM MEANS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID CAM MEANSADJACENT A SWITCH BUTTON OF SAID SWITCH MEANS, SPRING BIAS MEANS SEATEDBETWEEN SAID SWITCH AND SAID ACTUATOR BAR FOR BIASING SAID ACTUATOR BARAWAY FROM SAID SWITCH BUTTON, DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR BAR ALONGONE PATH CAUSING SAID CAM TO ENGAGE WITH AND DISPLACE SAID SWITCHBUTTON, SAID ACTUATOR BAR LOCKED IN POSITION BY THE INTERACTION BETWEENSAID HOUSING AND SAID ACTUATOR BAR AND SAID SWITCH BUTTON WHEN DISPLACEDALONG SAID ONE PATH PROVIDING A SELECTIVE OPERATING CONDITION FOR SAIDSWITCH, DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR BAR ALONG A DIFFERENT PATH CAUSINGSAID ACTUATOR BAR TO DISPLACE SAID SPRING BIAS MEANS STORING ENERGYTHEREIN AND SAID CAM TO ENGAGE WITH AND DISPLACE SAID SWITCH BUTTONPROVIDING ANOTHER SELECTIVE OPERATING CONDITION FOR SAID SWITCH, RELEASEOF SAID STORED ENERGY OF SAID SPRING BIASING MEANS DISPLACING SAIDACTUATOR BAR TO SAID POSITION ADJACENT SAID SWITCH BUTTON.